Be direct!
Jesus doesn’t answer questions that aren’t asked.
Some of the most beautiful blessings of the spiritual life are the “aha!” moments. Those are the moments when something clicks and opens up a whole new range of experiences in prayer. It’s like God is letting us in on a secret and savoring it with us. He reveals to us something both about Himself and ourselves, and He primes us to receive even more graces.
In our Gospel this Sunday, Jesus lets us in on a secret: “I am the way and the truth and the life.” Perhaps we may recall Jesus telling us at another time to “enter through the narrow gate.” This can seem like a daunting challenge, especially because He also notes that many will try and fail. But now He clarifies: He is the narrow gate. What we can take comfort in is that He is not referring to a strict location, but a person – He is referring to Himself. To follow the way into eternal life is to be in friendship with Him. Jesus is the way; He is the gate. This means that as long as we are striving to follow Him in our daily lives through prayer and the Sacraments, we are always close to the gate and always ready to enter when He calls us to the place that He’s lovingly prepared for us in the Father’s house. How do we cultivate this relationship each day?
It’s worth noting that this exchange occurs after Saint Thomas says what’s on his mind: “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” We can always count on Thomas saying what everyone else is thinking! But this comment gives Jesus the space to then tell us what He means. The Lord’s interactions with Thomas are always such a delight, because Jesus usually reciprocates Thomas’s directness. Be plain with God, and He will be plain with you. This doesn’t mean that He’ll spoon-feed you every answer, but you can’t get help you don’t ask for.
Dear friend, what’s on your heart? Do you speak to God plainly? Is there something that you’d like to talk to Him about, but perhaps feel like you can’t? What would it look like to talk to Him more openly in your prayer? These are the interactions that make Jesus an intimate friend – someone that you can speak with plainly. Then He’s not a moving target, but your close companion for the journey. Like with the disciples, He will continue to reveal wonderful things to you. And His presence in your life will become more and more evident with each “aha!” moment, because He always wants to show you more.
-Br. Andrew
